16/05/2011
NEWS STORY
Mat Coch writes:
Reports in Australia suggest Hispania driver Tonio Liuzzi could trade his Formula One car for a V8 Supercar towards the end of the season.
Australian Motorsport News suggests that Liuzzi could partner V8 series regular Tony D'Alberto at the Gold Coast 600, an endurance event around the streets of Surfers Paradise.
V8 Supercars made the Gold Coast event its own after the collapse of CART, which had raced around the Queensland streets for eighteen years. With the series demise, V8 Supercars, Australia's premier motor racing category, transformed the event into a two-race endurance event, attracting a host of international drivers.
According to the magazine D'Alberto gave a firm "no comment" when asked about the deal to bring Liuzzi down under, however, it goes on to suggest the deal has already been signed. Falling on the weekend between the Korean and Indian Grands Prix it's believed the Italian has also made travel plans so he can participate in the race.
Liuzzi would be the first active Formula One driver to take part in a V8 Supercar race, though both Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton have experienced Australia's premier motor sport category in demonstration events.
Last year 1997 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve took part in the event, sparking rumours the Canadian was about to join the series permanently.